I am looking to put an IFS on my son's '55 f-100. I have heard that a Dodge Dakota is a good donor. An '89 Dakota just happens to be the first available option. Does anyone have any knowledge about this? Please help me to make a wise decision as we are building on a limited budget. Your replies, GOOD or BAD would be greatly appreciated.

 

Here's a link for you
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...art_Seven.html

I don't know anything about the upgrade pro or con but others will be along who can help you. Welcome to FTE!

 

http://www.industrialchassisinc.com/

 

Well if it works and its cheap go for it!. i guess cause everyone else uses IFS from jag volare crown vics/grand marquis and bunch of other vehicles

 

I Don't Get The Poll. They Both Are Yes. What Are You Really Asking????

 

I say use what you have available. I have heard good things about it. I am going with the volare because that was the first suspension that I was able to find a good deal on.

 

I didn't get the quote either and then could not figure out how to delete it.

 

Thanks for the website. I will check it out in detail.

 

No problem, I'm probably just going to buy the crossmember and get the rest at the junk yard.

 

I have a complete truck available. I am thinking of a frame clip but Not sure yet

 

I have just put a 89 Dakota under my coe ,it rides like a new truck BUT steering will be wrong for a pick up ,it was just right for what I was doing.

 

I just received my crossmember from Industrial Chassis to put the Dakota IFS under a 63 F100, haven't installed it yet. I went with it because the Mustang II stuff is getting hard to find without going with aftermarket control arms and such. I also have a junkyard doen the road that has about 18 donor Dakotas just waiting for me!

 

I am very familiar with Steve at Industrial Chassis. They are doing a lot more with the Dakota front crossmember and kit. Talk to Steve and he will give you the straight scoop. I am going to have him do the crossmember install for me as I don't TIG weld and this is the structure of the truck. I bought a Dakota front clip for $200 so I have all the parts to use and a frame piece to sell for scrap. I'll take my frame to Industrial Chassis later this summer for them to weld in their Dakota crossmember.

I would recommend you NOT go a frame clip graft to your truck frame. Getting the frame clip aligned to the rest of the stock frame is very difficult if you don't know what you are doing.

Phil

 

I have a 95 Dakota that I use occasionally and the turning radius is slightly inside of the Queen Mary. Correct me if I am wrong (not surpriseing!) but won't this install keep the stock Dakota turning radius? I have never seen any comments on this but I would appreciate any observations from a user.

Tim

 

That seems strange. Usually the turning radius is dependent upon the length of the vehicle...the shorter the vehicle the smaller the radius and vice versa. We put a Pacer suspension under a friend's 34 Pontiac about 20 years ago and it had a very short turning radius, much shorter than the original knee action suspension.

The turning radius was so short on that car he occasionally hit himself in the rear bumper...